Validation of an algorithm of time-dependent electro-clinical risk stratification for electrographic seizures (TERSE) in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical implementation of continuous electroencephalography (CEEG) monitoring in critically ill patients is hampered by the substantial burden of work that it entails for clinical neurophysiologists. Solutions that might reduce this burden, including by shortening the duration of EEG to be recorded, would help its widespread adoption. Our aim was to validate a recently described algorithm of time-dependent electro-clinical risk stratification for electrographic seizure (ESz) (TERSE) based on simple clinical and EEG features. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and EEG recordings of consecutive patients undergoing CEEG between October 1, 2015 and September, 30 2016 and assessed the sensitivity of TERSE for seizure detection, as well as the reduction in EEG time needed to be reviewed. RESULTS: In a cohort of 407 patients and compared to full CEEG review, the model allowed the detection of 95% of patients with ESz and 97% of those with electrographic status epilepticus. The amount of CEEG to be recorded to detect ESz was reduced by two-thirds, compared to the duration of CEEG taht was actually recorded. CONCLUSIONS: TERSE allowed accurate time-dependent ESz risk stratification with a high sensitivity for ESz detection, which could substantially reduce the amount of CEEG to be recorded and reviewed, if applied prospectively in clinical practice. SIGNIFICANCE: Time-dependent electro-clinical risk stratification, such as TERSE, could allow more efficient practice of CEEG and its more widespread adoption. Future studies should aim to improve risk stratification in the subgroup of patients with acute brain injury and absence of clinical seizures.

Epileptic activity in neurological deterioration after ischemic stroke, a continuous EEG study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite improvement in acute stroke care, almost 40% of patients with ischemic stroke present neurological deterioration. Neurological deterioration is associated with higher death and dependency rates. Neurological deterioration mechanisms are unknown, and half of neurological deterioration remains unexplained. We postulate that a substantial proportion of neurological deterioration in ischemic stroke is associated with periodic discharges/non-convulsive seizures that negatively impact the recovery of ischemic stroke and worsen symptoms. METHODS: Retrospective review of 24 h continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) performed for neurological deterioration in the stroke unit of a tertiary academic centre. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were included. cEEG detected epileptic activities in 44% of cases (Non-convulsive seizures/non-convulsive status epilepticus: 10/81 (12%), periodic discharges: 17/81 (21%) and sporadic epileptiform discharges in 14/81 (17%)). The proportion of patients who did not receive recanalization therapy was significantly higher in the NCSE/NCSz/PDs group than in the group devoid of NCSE/NCSz/PDs: 17/22 (77%) vs 13/59 (22%); p < 0,001. Treatment of Non-convulsive seizures /non-convulsive status epilepticus and periodic discharges was followed by EEG improvement in respectively 7/8 and 10/16 of treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Non-convulsive seizures /non-convulsive status epilepticus /periodic discharges are associated to neurological deterioration after ischemic stroke. SIGNIFICANCE: Treatment of Non-convulsive seizures /non-convulsive status epilepticus and periodic discharges, if such patterns are detected, could help prevent adverse metabolic consequences of epileptic activities on ischemic brain tissue.

Epileptic syndromes: differential treatment in infants, children, and adolescents.

This paper proposes therapeutic guidelines for the management of some epileptic syndromes in infants, children, and adolescents, based on available medical literature and clinical practice in the French Community of Belgium. The guidelines address both epileptic encephalopathies (West syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome) and idiopathic epilepsies (typical absence seizures, epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy).

Acute behavioural change in a young woman evolving towards cerebellar syndrome.

Symptomatic paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are rare manifestations of cancers. Recently, a new type of encephalitis associated with antibodies against NMDA-glutamate receptors (A-NMDAR) was defined. The patients, usually young women, present with acute onset of psychiatric symptoms and decreased consciousness. We describe the case of a patient who presented with acute onset of delirium alternating with sub-comatose state. Blood analyses were within normal range. Lumbar puncture showed lymphocytic pleiocytosis. Brain gadolinium injected MRI, brain and full body PET scans were normal. Investigations led to suspect a paraneoplastic syndrome and a right ovarian teratoma and A-NMDAR were found and the teratoma removed. The remaining sequellae included a cerebellar syndrome seldom described before. As cerebellar and cortical neurons share the same excitatory pathway through NMDA-glutamate receptors, the cerebellar function impairment observed in our patient could be explained by a disabling action on glutamate NMDAR by the A-NMDAR.

Opinion of Belgian neurologists on antiepileptic drug treatment in 2006: Belgian study on epilepsy treatment (BESET-2).

OBJECTIVES: (i) To describe the medical treatment of epilepsy in Belgium in 2006, (ii) to detect the presence or absence of consensus in epilepsy treatment and (iii) to analyze the evolution of the neurologists' opinion between 2003 and 2006. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In December 2006, 100 neurologists were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, based on ordinal four-point scales. The questionnaire contained questions on treatment choices in adult patients with epilepsy. The results of this survey were compared with results of a previous one done in 2003. RESULTS: Initial monotherapy was the preferred treatment strategy. Valproate was first choice in idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine were first choice in focal epilepsy with partial seizures. Valproate was also first choice in focal epilepsy with secondarily generalized seizures. New antiepileptic drugs were recommended in second line. However, in special treatment situations, they were considered first-line, e.g. lamotrigine in case of women in childbearing age. In comparison with 2003, there was a trend of using earlier the new antiepileptic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: In end 2006, carbamazepine, valproate and oxcarbazepine were considered to be first choice drugs, whereas other newer drugs, like lamotrigine, levetiracetam and topiramate were predominantly prescribed in second line.

[Intraoperative MRI and epilepsy surgery]. / IRM opératoire et chirurgie de l'épilepsie.

Intraoperative imaging, in particular intraoperative MRI, is a developing area in neurosurgery and its role is currently being evaluated. Its role in epilepsy surgery has not been defined yet and its use has been limited. In our experience with a compact and mobile low-field intraoperative MRI system, a few epilepsy surgeries have been performed using this technique. As the integration of imaging and functional data plays an important role in the planning of epilepsy surgery, intraoperative verification of the surgical result may be highly valuable. Therefore, teams that have access to intraoperative MRI should be encouraged to use this technique prospectively to evaluate its current relevance in epilepsy surgery.

Contribution of magnetic source imaging to the presurgical work-up of patients with refractory partial epilepsy.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a functional cerebral imaging technique that non-invasively records extracranial magnetic fields generated by the electrical activity of the brain. Magnetic source imaging (MSI) is a combination of MEG and coregistered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that is increasingly being used in the non-invasive presurgical evaluation of patients with refractory partial epilepsy to localize the magnetic correlate of interictal epileptiform discharges. This paper reviews the basics of MEG and MSI, briefly describes the characteristics of the MEG system installed at the ULB-Hôpital Erasme and then summarises the available data on the contribution of MSI to the presurgical work-up of refractory partial epilepsy.

Opinion of Belgian neurologists on antiepileptic drugs: Belgian Study on Epilepsy Treatment (BESET).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the choice of treatment in adult patients with epilepsy in Belgium, to detect the presence or absence of consensus among neurologists in epilepsy treatment, and to analyze the gaps between current guidelines and prescriptions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hundred Belgian neurologists were systematically interviewed between May and June 2003 using a structured questionnaire (modified Rand method). RESULTS: Initial monotherapy was the preferred treatment strategy. Valproate was the first choice in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and carbamazepine in focal epilepsy (FE). The new antiepileptic drugs (AED) were usually recommended in second-line. However, in special treatment situations, they were considered first-line, e.g., lamotrigine in case of women of childbearing age. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologists reached consensus for most questions on epilepsy treatment. In 2003, monotherapy with valproate and carbamazepine was the common treatment strategy in Belgium, whereas lamotrigine and to a lesser extent levetiracetam, topiramate, and oxcarbazepine were predominantly prescribed in second-line. This is in agreement with the recently published UK epilepsy guidelines but not in agreement, however, with the US guidelines, that for new onset epilepsy, new and old drugs are equally effective. Belgian neurologists, except for some special situations still prefer old drugs as first line.

Guidelines for the management of epilepsy in the elderly.

Seizures starting in patients over 60 years old are frequent. Diagnosis is sometimes difficult and frequently under- or overrated. Cerebrovascular disorders are the main cause of a first seizure. Because of more frequent comorbidities, physiologic changes, and a higher sensitivity to drugs, treatment has some specificity in elderly people. The aim of this paper is to present the result of a consensus meeting held in October 2004 by a Belgian French-speaking group of epileptologists and to propose guidelines for the management and the treatment of epilepsy in elderly people.

The epileptic syndromes with continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep: definition and management guidelines.

The authors propose to define the epileptic syndromes with continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS) as a cognitive or behavioral impairment acquired during childhood, associated with a strong activation of the interictal epileptiform discharges during NREM sleep--whatever focal or generalized--and not related to another factor than the presence of CSWS. The type of syndrome will be defined according to the neurological and neuropsychological deficit. These syndromes have to be classified among the localization-related epileptic syndromes. Some cases are idiopathic and others are symptomatic. Guidelines for work-up and treatment are proposed.

Hyperekplexia in Kurdish families: a possible GLRA1 founder mutation.

Autosomal recessive hyperekplexia is due to loss-of-function mutations in the GLRA1 gene. The authors describe six patients from two consanguineous families with a homozygous deletion of the first seven GLRA1 exons and provide evidence of a founder effect in Kurds from Turkey. Hyperekplexia may be misdiagnosed as epilepsy.

Prophylaxis of the epilepsies: should anti-epileptic drugs be used for preventing seizures after acute brain injury?

In many circumstances antiepileptic drugs are used in patients who have never presented any clinical epileptic seizures. These substances are administered on the assumption of a potential risk for the patients of developing acute or delayed chronic seizures after brain injuries such as trauma, stroke, hemorrages or even neurosurgical interventions. The aim of this paper is to propose therapeutic guidelines for the management of this prophylactic attitude in epilepsy based on basic research and clinical practice in the French community in Belgium. We will distinguish between the prevention of acute (early onset-provoked) seizures and a delayed truly post-lesional (unprovoked) epilepsy. Some therapeutic goals can be achieved under the former circumstances whereas in the latter situation we all agree for the absence of any coherent antiepileptic prophylactic behaviour.

Guidelines for recognition and treatment of the psychoses associated with epilepsy.

Epilepsy and psychiatric diseases are frequent comorbidities. Psychoses in patients with epilepsy have special physiopathology and several clinical presentations and prognoses. Their treatments are also specific, according to the specific diagnosis. This paper represents the summary of a consensus meeting held in November 2003 by a Belgian French-speaking group of neurologists, neuropediatricians and psychiatrists and proposes guidelines for the recognition and treatment of those entities.

Therapeutic issues in women with epilepsy.

Approximately 20% of people with epilepsy are of childbearing potential and about 3 to 5 births per thousand will be to women with epilepsy. Both epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs can cause specific problems in women and embryos (less than 8 weeks of gestational age) or foetuses (more than 8 weeks of gestational age). The aim of this paper is to discuss therapeutic issues for the management of women with epilepsy: initiation of antiepileptic therapy, contraception, pregnancy, breast feeding and menopause. Some fertility issues are also discussed.

Therapeutic strategies in the choice of antiepileptic drugs.

The choice of treatment of newly diagnosed epilepsy involves many factors such as age, sex, life style, general health and concomitant medication. The seizure type, syndrome, and the pharmacology, efficacy and safety of the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) should also be considered. Some of the new AEDs appear to provide at least equivalent efficacy with better tolerability. Some of these drugs have the potential to become drugs of first choice in newly diagnosed epilepsy. At the present time, we also must consider the criteria of reimbursement of these drugs. In this paper, we try to describe common and practical strategies to start a treatment of newly diagnosed epilepsy.

Shift from hypermetria to hypometria in multiple system atrophy: analysis of distal and proximal movements.

Dysmetria is a classical sign which designates the overshoot, also called hypermetria, and the undershoot, or hypometria, when the patient attempts to reach rapidly an aimed target. Dysmetria is typically observed in patients presenting a cerebellar dysfunction. Dysmetria of distal movements is associated with an imbalance between the timing and/or the intensity of agonist and antagonist EMG activities. So far, 1. there is only one description in human of a shift from hypermetria to hypometria for fast goal-directed single-joint movements during an aberrant recovery following a cerebellar infarction, and 2. such a shift has not been described for proximal movements. We report a patient presenting a multiple system atrophy (MSA). Initially, he exhibited a marked cerebellar syndrome. Fast wrist flexions and fast upper limb reaches in the sagittal plane were hypermetric. The distal hypermetria was associated with a delayed onset latency of the antagonist EMG activity and reduced intensities of both the agonist and the antagonist EMG activities. The proximal hypermetria was associated with a defect in the phasic spatial tuning of the EMG activities. He developed progressively severe extra-pyramidal signs. Distal hypermetria turned into hypometria, as a result of a decrease in the intensity of the agonist muscle. Proximal hypermetria turned into hypometria, as a result of the loss of directional preference of the EMG activities in proximal muscles. MSA is the second human model of a shift from hypermetria to hypometria.

Technetium-99m ECD single photon emission computed tomography in brain trauma: comparison of early scintigraphic findings with long-term neuropsychological outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of early brain scintigraphy in head injury in relation to long-term neuropsychological behavior. Twenty-four patients underwent technetium-99m (Tc-99m) ethyl cysteinate dimer single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) within 1 month of the trauma. Scintigraphic abnormalities were evaluated both visually and semiquantitatively using the brain-to-cerebellum ratio method. The clinical neuropsychological investigation was conducted to evaluate abnormalities related to motor deficit, frontal behavior, and memory and language disorders. All patients had abnormalities on SPECT scan. One year after trauma, 14 patients (58%) had neuropsychological sequelae. The brain-to-cerebellum ratios in the left basal ganglia and brain stem were significantly decreased in patients with memory disorders (P = .03 and P = .02, respectively). Moreover, SPECT visual analysis indicated that low uptake in the basal ganglia, thalamus, and brain stem was associated with subsequent motor deficit, frontal behavior, and language and memory disorders. The authors conclude that brain SPECT can be valuable in predicting the neuropsychological behavior of survivors of severe head injury.

[Interobserver reliability of a new horizontal pointing manoeuvre: comparison with conventional tests]. / Etude de la reproductibilité inter-observateur de l'évaluation d'une nouvelle manoeuvre de pointage horizontal: comparaison avec les tests cliniques conventionnels.

Finger-to-nose test, fine finger movements, to maintain arms against gravity, alternate movements of hands, Barany's test, muscle tone evaluation, Stewart-Holmes test and handwriting are the conventional clinical tests most frequently used in daily practice to evaluate voluntary movements of the upper limb. We describe a new clinical manoeuvre consisting of a horizontal pointing movement of one upper limb (the moving limb) towards the contralateral motionless limb. We have analyzed the reliability of our new test and of the conventional tests between 2 observers using kappa statistics in a group of 34 right-handed neurological patients. Agreement is very good for our test, since k has a value of 0.63 for left upper limb and a value of 0.64 for right upper limb. The only conventional test characterized by a higher interobserver reliability is handwriting. Furthermore, our manoeuvre is original, as attested by partial association coefficients analysis between our test and conventional tests. This might be due to the fact that our manoeuvre is the sole test investigating rapid proximal movements towards a fixed area in space. In conclusion, our horizontal pointing manoeuvre has a very good reliability between 2 observers and appears original.

[Head injury and pregnancy]. / Traumatisme crânien et grossesse.

Even mild, head injury during pregnancy can threaten either the maternal or the fetal life. Traffic accidents are the main causes so head injury is often associated with other lesions, frequently abdominal trauma. Among all these possible lesions, head injury and hemorrhagic shock are the main sources of fatality in pregnant women. All kinds of trauma and especially head injuries have a potentially deleterious effect on fetal viability. This risk is associated with systemic and cerebral consequences of post-traumatic arterial hypotension, anoxia or anemia. Moreover, diagnostic procedures and medications can add their noxious secondary effects, contributing more or less to poor fetal outcome. Decision making is necessarily dictated by the severity of the consciousness disorders and/or the encephalic lesions. A convergent discussion between the intensive care physician, the neurosurgeon, the obstetrician and the anesthesiologist is needed. Severe or prolonged traumatic coma is highly dramatic situation because the maternal outcome remains largely unknown for days or weeks. Technically, for these severe comas, there are no substantial differences with what is usually done in a similar case without pregnancy. Neurosurgical indications follow the usual rules, except that some non-urgent indications should be delayed for a while. Usually, this simple rule of independency in indications also applies to the obstetrician. Special care must be taken for fetal monitoring required throughout the initial critical phase.